'Fire ignited within me': Charlie Kirk's wife in her first address after Conservative activist's assassination

Speaking from the office where Charlie used to host his podcast, Erika thanked the law enforcement officials for nabbing the assassin.

"You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry," she said in a tearful address.

Erika promised she won't let Charlie's movement collapse. "I promise I will never let your legacy die," she said and added, "In a world filled with chaos, doubt and uncertainty, my husband's voice will remain."

" My heart is with everyone of my husband's employees who lost a friend and a mentor," she said for Charlie's employees.

She has also thanked President Trump, US Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance for the support.

"You supported him so well, as did he for you," Erika said for the President.

Charlie was on Wednesday shot dead during his address at the Utah Valley University in Orem.

A single gunshot was fired and it struck Charlie on his neck when he was addressing the students at the university.

He was speaking at an outdoor "Prove Me Wrong" table as part of his American Comeback Tour. 

The key suspect arrested in connection with the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been identified as Tyler Robinson.

The 22-year-old Utah native was taken into custody on Thursday after a manhunt for 33 hours.

As per a report by BBC News, the assassin's father persuaded him to surrender to police.

The probe officials said on Friday that Tyler told his father that he would rather die than surrender. His father then called a pastor, who also happens to be their family friend.

The pastor, who is also a court security officer, called the US Marshals who detained Tyler at 10 pm local time on Thursday.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said the surveillance pictures showed the suspect arriving at the venue where Charlie was shot dead four hours prior to when the shot was fired.

Cox said Tyler when he was taken into custody was wearing the same clothes which were seen on CCTV at the time when the shot was fired.

Who was Charlie Kirk?

Born on October 14, 1993 and died September 10, 2025,  Charles James 'Charlie' Kirk, co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 when he was about 18 or 19.

He also founded / was CEO of Turning Point Action and was involved in several related conservative activist initiatives.

He was a prominent media personality: hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, was a public speaker, often appeared on conservative TV/radio, and was involved in social media outreach.